304 



REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 



A Guide to the Whales, Porpoises and Dolphins in the British Museum 

 (Natural History), has recently been issued at 4cl. It can be lookcnl upon 

 not only as a reliable guide to the tine series of aquatic nianimals in tlic 

 National Collection, but as a general introduction to this fascinating branch 

 of natural history. That it has been written by Mr. R. Lydekker is suffi- 

 cient guarantee as to its reliability. There arc thirty-three illustrations. 



The Bradford Public Libraries' Committee has issued a Catalogue of 

 the Lees Botanical Collection in the Reference Library. 36 pp., price 3d. 



This contains a list of the botanical books and pamphlets purchased from 

 Dr. Arnold Lees, as well as of a few geological items. To facilitate reference 

 there is an 'Index of Subjects, and an Index of Authors. These special 

 catalogues are useful, and this appears to have been carefully compiled. 



Birds and their Nests and Eggs by G. H. Vos. London : George Rout- 

 ledge. 148 + 223 + 240 pp. 3/6. 



This volume contams, in one co\ er, the three series, under the same 

 title, which had been previously issued at i /- each, already noted in these 

 columns. The original pagination, titles, etc., are, however, maintained, 

 giving the volume a patchy appearance. Naturally, the remarks already 

 made in reference to the matter and illustrations also apply to this book. 

 It has the advantage, however, of a brief index, and the volume will make 

 a cheap and acceptable gift to a schoolboy. 



♦♦^ 



NORTHERN NEWS. 



The following observation from a recent issue of a ' natural history ' 

 journal shews with what ability a properly-trained naturalist can explain 

 anything : — ' The reason for the rarity of snakes [in Ireland] is possibly the 

 abundance of pigs, which are great devourers of .snakes.' 



Mr. L. Glauert, F.G.S., has recently contributed a paper on ' A New 

 Species of Sthenuvus ' to the Geological Society of London. This species 

 of Kangaroo had been recognised amongst bones found in the Mammoth 

 Cave, Margaret River, Western Australia. 



The mantle of Gilbert White has evidently fallen upon the Vicar of 

 Pontfaen, near Fishguard, who writes that ' House-martins who [sic] have 

 built nests under the eaves of his house, have been regularly fed by hedge 

 sparrows, which took rice from chickens, and carried it to the nests.' 



Mr. C. Waterfall has been lecturing before the Hull Junior Naturalists' 

 Society on ' The Causes contributing to the Rarity of Plants.' 



' Butterflies Chasing Children at Selby ' is the title of a note in ' Wild 

 Nature Week by Week,' specially contributed to the ' Yorkshire Evening 

 Post,' We hear that the children have passed a good night at the hospital, 

 but are still suffering from shock. 



We regret to learn that Scotter Common, Lincolnshire, has been fired, 

 probably through carelessness, and that about 200 acres of this fine 

 common have been cleared of vegetation, and considerable damage 

 has been done to game, etc. 



From Mr. T. Petch, B.Sc, the Government Mycologist in Ceylon, we 

 have received a number of reprints, the most interesting of which deals 

 with ' The Phalloideae of Ceylon.' Judging from the many excellent plates, 

 these curious fungi are provided with veils. The compositor has evidently 

 not grasped the fact that the specimens belong to the vegetable kingdom, 

 which perhaps accounts for the unfortunate misprint ' Nat. sire ' on the 

 plates. 



4 AUG, 1909 Natu^lis^ 



